This weekend will mark the NFL’s Hall of Fame Game, between the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers, who had a great rivalry in the 1970s, meeting twice in the Super Bowl, with the Steelers winning both times. The Cowboys would get revenge in Super Bowl XXX before sliding into relative mediocrity, while the Steelers have periodically returned to the Super Bowl.
This opens the 2021 preseason — making it time to check our NFL betting predictions for Week 1 of the regular season.
NFL News: 2021 Week 1 Full Game Betting Predictions
Thursday, September 9
Dallas Cowboys (+6.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (O/U 51.5)
The Buccaneers return all 22 starters, while the Cowboys get back Dak Prescott after he missed most of 2020 with a fractured ankle. The Cowboys drafted some terrific talent on defense, but they will be young and still figuring things out. Expect lots of points, and expect Tampa Bay to pull away. Bucs to win and cover, take the over.
Sunday, September 12
L.A. Chargers (+1) at Washington Football Team (44.5)
Justin Herbert is the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, and he has Keenan Allen and Mike Williams running routes. The defense has Derwin James back from a knee injury, but he has had two straight seasons end with knee woes, so we have to wonder how strong the knee is. Washington won the NFC East last year without a real quarterback, and this year they have Ryan Fitzpatrick. The defense is stout once again. Washington to win and cover, take the under.
Seattle Seahawks (+2.5) at Indianapolis Colts (49.5)
Carson Wentz will not likely start this game due to a foot injury, as he has opted to have surgery that will have him out five to twelve weeks. Five weeks would put him back with the team just in time to start the game — with basically no preseason after a dreadful end to his time in Philadelphia. The other quarterbacks on the Colts’ roster are Jacob Eason, Sam Ehlinger, Jalen Morton and Brett Hundley. You should bet on the Seahawks as quickly as you can before this line moves the other way. Seattle to cover, take the under.
Pittsburgh Steelers (+6.5) at Buffalo Bills (50.5)
Pittsburgh started 2020 11-0 and then finished 1-4. They still won the AFC North, but they lost a home playoff game to Cleveland. Ben Roethlisberger returns to take on Father Time, and the team has added Najee Harris out of Alabama at tailback. The Bills got rid of wideout John Brown and added Emmanuel Sanders; the rest of the Bills’ off-season largely represented continuity, but they are a team ready to try and unseat Kansas City. Bills to win and cover, take the under.
Minnesota Vikings (-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (48.5)
Three of the four Vikings quarterbacks are currently on the COVID-19 list, and Kirk Cousins remains unvaccinated. That’s not good news if you look at how poorly Cam Newton played after trying to return from his COVID-19 case. The Vikings’ defense was dreadful last year, permitting 29.7 points per game and getting run out of their own stadium by a Cowboys team led by a backup quarterback. Patrick Peterson comes to join the secondary — which Joe Burrow will test. Given the chaos that COVID-19 is playing in Minnesota’s preparations, I’m liking the Bengals more and more. Bengals to cover, take the over.
Jacksonville Jaguars (-2.5) at Houston Texans (46)
Trevor Lawrence is expected to start this game, along with fellow Clemson star Travis Etienne. D.J. Chark, Marvin Jones and Laviska Shenault make up an underrated wideout trio. The Texans have Deshaun Watson in training camp, so that he doesn’t get fined $50K per day, but he wants out, and the next quarterback on the depth chart is Tyrod Taylor. Texans to win and cover, take the under.
N.Y. Jets (+4.5) at Carolina Panthers (43.5)
Robert Saleh takes over for the Jets at head coach, and Zach Wilson out of BYU will likely be the team’s starting quarterback as they face their former franchise signal-caller, Sam Darnold, in town with Teddy Bridgewater now in Denver. Christian McCaffrey returns on offense. Are the Jets ready to post a road upset? The Panthers went just 2-6 straight up and against the spread last season. Jets to cover, take the under.
San Francisco 49ers (-7.5) at Detroit Lions (46)
Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance will duel for the starting QB job in San Francisco, and the winner will have Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle running routes. The Lions have Jared Goff and some first-round draft choices at quarterback instead of Matthew Stafford. Goff doesn’t have Marvin Jones or Kenny Golladay to throw passes too, because they both left in free agency, so his top wideouts are Breshad Perriman and Tyrell Williams. 49ers to win and cover, take the over.
Arizona Cardinals (+2.5) at Tennessee Titans (51.5)
The Cardinals added A.J. Green to their offense, to join DeAndre Hopkins running routes. James Conner comes to town at tailback, and the offense could be stellar. J.J. Watt and Malcolm Butler join the defense. Derrick Henry ran for 2,027 yards and 17 scores for the Titans last season, but their problems came on defense. They added Bud Dupree, but that won’t solve all the problems by itself. The biggest addition for the Titans was wideout Julio Jones. Titans to win and cover, take the over.
Philadelphia Eagles (+3.5) at Atlanta Falcons (48)
Jalen Hurts has Devonta Smith, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, running routes for him, and Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert are both ready at tight end. Miles Sanders and Kenneth Gainwell are ready to carry the ball. Matt Ryan threw for 26 touchdowns a year ago, and he still has Calvin Ridley at wide receiver. The Falcons took Kyle Pitts fourth overall at tight end, a major upgrade. Falcons to win, take the under.
Miami Dolphins (+2) at New England Patriots (46)
Tua Tagovailoa won’t have Ryan Fitzpatrick to come off the bench and rescue him in games this season. However, he will have former Alabama teammate Jaylen Waddle running routes for him this year, along with Will Fuller V. The Patriots will have Cam Newton back at quarterback. Miami is the better team on paper, but Bill Belichick will have a plan to keep Tua from beating him. Patriots to win and cover, take the under.
Cleveland Browns (+6) at Kansas City Chiefs (52.5)
The Browns pushed Kansas City hard in the divisional playoff game last year, and they have added two great players to their secondary along with Jadeveon Clowney to the pass rush. The Kansas City Chiefs retooled their O-line but did not replace #2 receiver Sammy Watkins. They’re hoping that Mecole Hardman can come along. The Browns will come in hungry, but they tend to struggle in openers. Chiefs to win and cover, take the over.
Green Bay Packers (-2.5) at New Orleans Saints (50.5)
It’s hard to see either Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill winning a quarterback battle with Aaron Rodgers, even this newly disgruntled version of Aaron Rodgers. Packers to win and cover, take the over.
Denver Broncos (+1) at N.Y. Giants (43)
Either Teddy Bridgewater or Drew Lock will have a talented collection of wideouts, led by Courtland Sutton but also including Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick and K.J. Hamler. The Giants had to deal with injuries to Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones, but both are back, and the Giants added Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney to run routes. Broncos to cover, take the over.
Chicago Bears (+7) at L.A. Rams (45.5)
I’m just not that convinced that Matthew Stafford is the savior of the Rams, and the Bears know his tendencies all too well. I expect a defensive morass. Bears to cover, take the under.
Monday, September 13
Baltimore Ravens (-4.5) at Las Vegas Raiders (51.5)
It’s early in the season, which means that the Ravens are hungry and opponents haven’t figured them out yet. The Raiders will still have Derek Carr at quarterback, and John Brown and Willie Snead have come to town to run routes. The defense is still a problem, though. Ravens to win and cover, take the under.
NFL Betting Odds
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